topic Macro execution when macro variables contain special characters in SAS Programming

Macro execution when macro variables contain special characters

bullman — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 13:24:53 GMT

Hi all,

I'm having a problem with a macro I'm trying to write to display titles in a sas template

the macro goes as follows:

Step one: compile macro variables

proc sql;

select count(distinct titles)

into :n

from bigset;

select distinct titles

into :%nrstr(titlemacr1) - :%nrstr(titlemacr%left(&n))

from bigset;

quit;

Step II: Execute a macro to generate graphs with a unique title as follows:

%macro titleloop;

%do i=1 %to &n;

proc template;

...

entrytitle %sysfunc(%nrquote("&&titlemacr&i");

...

end;

run;

%end;

%mend;

%titleloop;

The problem i'm having is that the entrytitle statement will not resolve if the string which &&titlemacr&i resolves to contains any quotes. For example, if titlemacr resolves to ABCD, the macro is fine. if titlemacr resolves to ABC"D the macro generates an error and does not work.

Am I going about the sysfunc/nrquote functions incorrectly?

Re: Macro execution when macro variables contain special characters

data_null__ — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 13:34:52 GMT

Use QUOTE function something like this untested

entrytitle %sysfunc(quote(%superq(titlemacr&i)));

Re: Macro execution when macro variables contain special characters

bullman — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 13:59:45 GMT

That didn't quote work -- I still receive an error along the lines of 'the function quote referenced by %sysfunc has too many arguments

The macro variable in question has a double quotes attached to two numbers followed by blank space. It seems like the function tries to resolve when it sees that quote, and that's where the issue beings.

Re: Macro execution when macro variables contain special characters

Tom — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:15:50 GMT

You should check that PROC TEMPLATE handles these characters properly by creating an example without macro logic or macro variables. For example if TITLEMACR1 contains ABC"D then you would want to test if

entrytitle "ABC""D" ;

works.

Note: You can simplify the SQL that is generating the macro variables. You can also put the call to QUOTE() function there and avoid issues with macro variable expansions.

proc sql noprint ;

select distinct quote(trim(titles))

into :titlemacr1 - :titlemacr99999

from bigset

;

%let n=&sqlobs ;

quit;

...

entrytitle &&title1macr&i ;

...

Re: Macro execution when macro variables contain special characters

bullman — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:00:40 GMT

Still not quite working, however the template does resolve if there are quotes within quotes, e.g. entrytitle "ABC""D" does resolve.

Further, if i try out the following:

entrytitle %sysfunc(quote(%bquote(&title34)));

the macro resolves, too. it apepars that the double pass of the macro creates an issue.

Re: Macro execution when macro variables contain special characters

Tom — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:17:30 GMT

%bquote(&title34)

works then

%superq(title34)

should also work and so should

%superq(title&i)